Rachel Lichtman's Programme 4 television event @ Paradise Theatre, November 12

Video director Rachel Lichtman brings her Programme 4 television event – with Joe Pernice – to T.O. on Thursday, November 12!

Programme 4 at the Paradise Theatre

with guests: Joe Pernice, Aurora Browne, Kris Siddiqi, Mike Evin

Paradise Theatre (1006c Bloor Street West, Toronto)

Thursday, November 12, 2026

7 pm to 10 pm

Escape to the hilariously switched-on world of Programme 4, the groovy, feature-length “broadcast” from the Botany 500 Age of Television. Transmitting surreal local programming from the wall-to-wall carpeted dimension of Golden Sands — exclusively screened in-person at Toronto's Paradise Theatre for your analog pleasure with Programme 4 creator Rachel Lichtman. Plus special guest stars Joe Pernice, Aurora Browne, Kris Siddiqi and Mike Evin on the Fender Rhodes electric piano! This is simply an unmissable happening! Advance tickets are $28.25... get 'em right here.  

Programme 4 is more than just a collection of too-great-to-be-true TV shows, razor sharp send-ups of local commercials, interstitials and mind-blowing title sequences elevated to their own deserving art forms. From cinemas to star-studded variety showcases, it’s a live, anything-can-happen happening. Featuring special guest stars, Rhodes pianos, musical guests, surprise walk-ons, talk show-style discussions, & more! Programme 4 is unlike anything happening today. It’s an in-person experience that invites you to tune in, turn on and connect with like-minded people in a mellow environment that is conducive to discovering and savouring art with unbroken attention.

Each Programme 4 show is unique, custom-tailored for its host city and featuring local celebs and artists, adding to the local-TV vibe of the Programme 4 “telecasts.” The list of luminaries involved in the switched-on, immersive world of Golden Sands includes Dave Gruber Allen, Trace Beaulieu, Frank Conniff, Mitch Easter, Dave Foley, Jay Gonzalez, Dana Gould, Juliana Hatfield, Bill Janovitz, Mikael Jorgensen, Dag Juhlin, Josh Kantor, Rich Koz, Jon Langford, Ted Leo, Aimee Mann, Michael McKean, Eugene Mirman, Chris Murphy, Joel Murray, Patton Oswalt, Joe Pernice, Michael Penn, Pat Sansone, The Sklar Brothers, Michael Spicer, Tammy Faye Starlite, Kelley Stoltz, Sean Wolcott, Jon Wurster & many more! 

Watch the Programme 4 "Make The Scene" Fall Preview trailer followed by an interview with Rachel Lichtman conducted by Mark Caro for Caro Pop below. You can also read Jason Scott's think piece The Browner World: In The Realm of Programme 4 right here. Watch a rave review of the current touring show from Patton Oswalt recently posted on FB right here. 

Erika Werry launches new "Pick It Up" album @ The Bell & Beacon, Nov 12

Michael Bennett, Adam Lawryshyn & Adam Warner (not shown) will be accompanying Erika Werry with Freeman Dre opening at 9 pm.   Photo: Susy G

Listen to Erika Werry's new "Pick It Up" album via Bandcamp right here. 

Erika Werry – Pick It Up

1. Pokerface 3:34

2. Cruisin' for a Bruisin' 3:09

3. Quest for Joy 3:18

4. Tongue Tied 4:15

5. Short Circuit 3:48

6. Pick It Up 2:18

7. Overshoe Shooter blues 2:25

8. The Muse 3:28

9. Doldrums 3:55

10. Last Moves 3:06

11. To Start 3:25

12. Short Circuit Alt. version

Credits:

Erika Werry's "Pick It Up" album was produced and mixed by Dean Drouillard. Joining Erika Werry (acoustic guitar, lead vocal) is Adrian Lawryshyn (double bass), Michael Bennett (guitar, harmonica),  Adam Warner (drums, percussion), with backing vocals contributed by Mark Rainey and Rebecca Campbell. All songs written by Erika Werry ("wanderlust" rap by Mike Bennett). Thanks to Dean also for playing guitars and sundry instruments, but not too many. Engineered by Tim Vesely over a over a couple days of recording at Toronto's Woodshed studio. Mastered by Joao Carvalho 2026. Cover art: Gavin McDonald, cover photo: Ingram Barss.

B-Side Wins Again: Dave Berry

Check out "Don't Give Me No Lip Child" by Dave Berry – with Jimmy Page on guitar – later covered by the Sex Pistols.. 

Remembering Pretty Things frontman Phil May on his birthday

Remembering the legendary Phil May with a few stellar Pretty Things performances and his Electric Banana recordings.  

Jaymz Bee's epic feature film "MagicLand" screens @ The Fox Theatre, Monday

Jaymz Bee's MagicLand – starring Irene Torres – is screening at the Fox Theatre tonight, at the Royal on Wednesday and The Redwood on November 20. 

Here's the scoop...

MagicLand, The first feature film from Toronto’s own Jaymz Bee (co-directed with Jason J. Brown and co-written with poet Robert Priest), is a joyful, all-ages musical fantasy bursting with colour, comedy, and songs spanning every style imaginable.

When Athena, goddess of wisdom, falls for a handsome mortal poet, she trades her immortality for a shot at human love and slides down a rainbow into MagicLand, a whimsical realm full of scheming leprechauns, singing sirens, a grumpy cyclops, a lovable ogre named Oggie, and a kindly wizard. But when she finally meets the man of her dreams, Athena discovers the greatest magic of all is simply being yourself.

Starring Irene Torres and featuring local heroes including Barbra Lica, Denielle Bassels, Lori Cullen, Jef Farquharson, and many more, MagicLand is a homegrown love letter to Toronto’s music and arts community, and a big-hearted adventure for the whole family.

Get advance tickets from The Fox Theatre (2236 Queen St. East) right here. Watch the trailer below. Note: This screening is a rental. Regular pricing and discounts do not apply. For more information about Jaymz Bee's activities, visit his site: https://jaymzbee.com/news/. 

Numero Group recirculating more of Zani Diabaté's Super Djata Band

Straight outta Bamako, Mali's fully-amped Super Djata Band explored a wide range of grooves from the Fula & Mandingo traditions. Check it out below. 

Here's the scoop from Numero Group...

Our journey into the extraordinary world of Zani Diabaté and Super Djata Band continues with the fourth instalment in our series, Authentique 80 due January 15th but now available for pre-order here.

Connecting Wasulu hunter music, griot praises, Senufo pastoral dances, Fula and Mandingo traditions with Western psychedelia, blues and Afrobeat, Super Djata Band forged one of the most distinctive sounds to emerge from post-independence West Africa. 

Led by the visionary guitarist Zani Diabaté, the sprawling Bamako-based orchestra channelled centuries of musical heritage through the electricity of the modern age.

Across their remarkable recordings, the band moved effortlessly between hypnotic traditional rhythms, intricate Manding guitar work, relentless funk and psychedelic guitar excursions. Diabaté’s playing was deeply rooted in the phrasing and spirit of traditional West African music, yet fearless in its exploration of distortion, wah-wah and the possibilities of the electric guitar.

Alongside Mali’s great musical institutions, Super Djata Band, A 14-piece powerhouse with a sound as culturally grounded as it was forward-looking, captured a particularly electric moment in Malian musical history. Despite their immense influence and remarkable body of work, much of the band’s recorded legacy remained out of circulation and largely inaccessible for decades.

This series is our ongoing effort to restore and remaster the work of Zani Diabaté and Super Djata Band available to listeners around the world.

Four records into the journey, and the sorcery remains undiminished.

Get the first two volumes of Super Djata Band reissues directly from Numero Group here & here (with 15% off your first order!) or via Bandcamp right here. 

R.I.P. guitarist Richard Lloyd, 1951-2026

Sadly, guitar great Richard Lloyd of Television has passed away at the age of 75. There won't be another like him.

LINKS

Listen to Richard Lloyd live at Maxwell's 02-29-87 right here. 

Watch Pokey LaFarge play "My Baby Loves Me" in Toronto

Enjoy Pokey LaFarge's performance of "My Baby Loves Me" without the blinding disco lights flashing in your eyes right here.

Pokey LaFarge's cardigan-ready R&B detour "Rent Money" is available via Bandcamp right here. 

Remembering guitarist/songwriter & producer Stephen Bruton on his birthday

Raising a glass to guitarist/songwriter and actor Stephen Bruton with the Lonestar documentary and a Saxon Pub show from 2001.  

Stephen Bruton's longtime pal Kris Kristofferson remembers a near-death experience on a river right here. 

Protomartyr, J.R.C.G. @ The Concert Hall, Saturday

Detroit's Protomartyr will be joined by Tacoma-based J.R.C.G. led by Dreamdecay's Justin R. Cruz Gallego for some noisy kicks!   

Advance tickets for Protomartyr's show with J.R.C.G. at the Concert Hall on Saturday are $42.63 and available here. 

Dollar Bin Delights: The Surrealistic Pillar, The Unknowns

Straight outta Louisiana it's The Surrealistic Pillar with "I Like Girls" penned by the two Eddies, Futch (aka Raven) & Smith behind The Unknowns!

Nick Cave is doing two nights at Massey Hall on April 29th & 30th

Yes, Nick Cave is returning to Toronto in April! Tickets for his Massey Hall dates go on pre-sale Wednesday, Nov 11th at 10 am. 

Here's the scoop...

Conversations with Nick Cave – An Evening of Talk and Music in North America in 2027.  

Full dates below. 

Register now for presale access: nickcaveconversations.com

Presale begins Wednesday, November 11 at 10am (local).  

General on sale begins Friday, November 13 at 10am (local).  

Dates:

Friday, April 9, 2027 - Vancouver, BC - Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Monday, April 12, 2027 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Tuesday, April 13, 2027 - Seattle, WA - The 5th Avenue Theatre

Wednesday, April 14, 2027 - Seattle, WA - The 5th Avenue Theatre

Friday, April 16, 2027 - San Francisco, CA - Orpheum Theatre

Saturday, April 17, 2027 - San Francisco, CA - Orpheum Theatre

Tuesday, April 20, 2027 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre

Wednesday, April 21, 2027 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre

Saturday, April 24, 2027 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre

Monday, April 26, 2027 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre

Tuesday, April 27, 2027 - Detroit, MI - Masonic Jack White Theatre

Thursday, April 29, 2027 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall

Friday, April 30, 2027 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall

Sunday, May 2, 2027 - Montreal, QC - Théâtre St-Denis*

Tuesday, May 4, 2027 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Shubert Theatre

Wednesday, May 5, 2027 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Shubert Theatre

Friday, May 7, 2027 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre

Saturday, May 8, 2027 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre

Monday, May 10, 2027 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia

Tuesday, May 11, 2027 - Washington, D.C. - Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, May 13, 2027 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Friday, May 14, 2027 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall

Sunday, May 16, 2027 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Tuesday, May 18, 2027 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre

Friday, May 21, 2027 - New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre

*General on sale in Montreal begins Friday, November 13 at 11am (local).

Rare gems from Solomon Burke, Dan Penn, Jon Lucien on new Soul4Real EPs

Soul4Real's new RCA EP stars Carolyn Franklin & Jon Lucien while the Bell/Amy 7" has Solomon Burke's version of a George Jones classic.  

Here's the scoop...

Soul4Real Records is back at it with two more 4-song "Reserva Especial" EPs of vintage soul delights from the vaults of Bell/Amy and RCA. 

The first EP, focused on Bell and Amy, features two originally unreleased tracks by The O’Jays and Solomon Burke (his soulful reading of the George Jones country classic "She Thinks I Still Care" turned up on the Proud Mary: The Bell Sessions CD from 2000), alongside two beloved album cuts by Dan Penn ("Raining In Memphis" off the Nobody's Fool LP) and Lee Dorsey ("Don't You Ever Leave Me" from the Working In A Coal Mine LP), making their debut on 45. 

Get a copy of the Bell/Amy EP directly from Soul4Real right here. Have a listen below. 

Reserva Especial Bell/Amy EP

Reserva Especial RCA EP

Next up, The Reserva Especial RCA EP includes "From The Bottom Of My Heart" from cover star – and Aretha's younger sister – Carolyn Franklin's 1976 album If You Want Me, Willie Hutch's "Lucky To Be Loved By You" from 1969's Self Portrait LP,  "You Got Me" by The Exciters off their Caviar and Chitlins LP issued that same year, along with Jon Lucien's "Luella" from the Tortola-born soul great's 1973 album Rashida. 

Get the RCA EP right here.  Check out the songs below. 

One For The Weekend: Fitz Vaughan Bryan & Orchestra

Check out Fitz Vaughan Bryan's calypso jazz swinger "Koyato" released on Cook Records in 1960. 

Copyright aka Circle C's stellar 1991 debut album getting long overdue vinyl issue

Better 35 years late than never, Circle C's brilliant self-titled debut will finally appear on vinyl via Porterhouse Records on December 7th. 

Here's the scoop...

Circle C rose from the ashes of Vancouver's critical darlings Slow, who made huge waves centered around intense and out of control live performances that gave them the reputation as “Vancouver’s most notorious rock band.”

Lost to the sands of time until now this epic recording will be celebrated on the occasion of its 35th Anniversary with a first ever vinyl release on Porterhouse. Circle C's S/T is broadly recognized by critics and fans as a “lost masterpiece” and “the most underrated rock album of all time,” and those fans are absolutely right.

Landing somewhere between ‘Exile on Main Street’ and a punked up ‘Houses of the Holy’ this recording was a broad and epic undertaking that stands the test of time. It’s a stone cold classic and you do not want to miss an opportunity to own a copy of this record on wax.

Produced by John Porter (The Smiths, Roxy Music) the album is a sonic palate of thoughtful instrumentation and arrangement paired with stunning dynamics. Songwriting is top notch and it’s some of the best Canada has ever produced.

Since there are only 500 copies in this limited edition vinyl pressing of Circle C's S/T LP, you might wanna pre-order it now from Porterhouse Records (right here) because this one will most likely never be pressed again. Out December 7th in Canada with orders for the rest of the world shipping in January. Watch a vintage TV feature on Circle C followed by an audio clip of the entire album below. 

The new Sleep with ZOMBI, Schizophonics @ The Phoenix, November 9

The new Sleep lineup has Al Cisneros joined by The Melvins' Dale Crover & Void's Bubba Dupree replacing Matt Pike on guitar. 

Tickets for Sleep with ZOMBI and The Schizophonics (who will kick ass!) are $49.68 advance right here. Doors at 7 pm. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1536696901341997

R.I.P. UK session drummer Clem Cattini, 1937-2026

Sadly, UK session drummer Clem Cattini – who played on 40+ UK number ones and many more classics – has passed away at 89.

Midweek Mixdown: Africa Gone Funkee

Subtitled "70's African, Afrobeat, Funk, Soul Music," Rocafort's Africa Gone Funkee collection covers it all.

Remembering jazz bassist Henry Grimes on his birthday

Remembering versatile Philadelphia-born jazz bassist and violinist Henry Grimes with a short doc and some performances.

Little Ann's soul gem "Deep Shadows" gets new 7-inch reissue

Timmion's new 7-inch release of Little Ann's soul gem Deeper Shadows is backed with "Deeper Shadows" by The Third Degree.

Here's the scoop from Timmion Records...

Little Ann's ‘Deep Shadows’ b/w ‘Deeper Shadows’ 7” vinyl single is now available for pre-order! Release date: November 13th, 2026! 

“Little” Ann Bridgeforth left this plane in 2003, several years before the song that would become her most revered, found its audience. “Deep Shadows” is a soul boulder of epic proportions, a stark depiction of longing and claustrophobic isolation if there ever was one.

The song was recorded along with a bunch of other soul gems by Dave Hamilton and Darrell Goolsby in late 1960s Detroit just to be buried unreleased in a box for decades to come. It wasn’t until 1998, when Ace released it for the first time on CD and its reputation has grown exponentially since, the tune’s snappy drums, vibes and wailing vocals getting sampled for example by Madlib (check out "DBZ" by Your Old Droog with Method Man & Denzil Curry produced by Madlib), Grand Puba (listen to "Think Of U" below), Loyle Carner and dozens of other beatheads.

Back in 2009, Timmion compiled all of Ann’s canned output on an album and now releases the song on a 7” backed with a new version “Deeper Shadows.” The treatment flips Ann’s vocals to hit a different beat from the original, pasting them over an unreleased backing track from UK session group The Third Degree. Miraculously, this potion works delivering a fresh interpretation of Ann’s masterpiece. The two vastly different renditions of deep soul heaven are now available on vinyl for you to spin.  

Pre-order Little Ann's "Deep Shadows" b/w "Deeper Shadows" single from Timmion via Bandcamp right here. Have a listen to "Deep Shadows" below.